World Record Holder · Cape Town to Brazil · 2023
RICHARD
KOHLER
Adventurer. Solo Kayaker. Speaker.
First person to kayak solo, unsupported across the Southern Atlantic Ocean.
Southern Atlantic crossing
Solo, unsupported
World first — ever
Arrival in Salvador, Brazil
First Records
About
A LIFE ON
THE WATER
Richard Kohler is a South African adventurer, endurance athlete, and motivational speaker driven by an unrelenting desire to push beyond what is thought possible. His 2023 solo kayak crossing of the Southern Atlantic Ocean — 6,403 km from Cape Town to Salvador, Brazil in 63 days — stands as one of the greatest feats of human endurance in paddling history.
Before the ocean called, Richard competed as a sailor on the Shosholoza America’s Cup team and represented South Africa at the World Masters Marathon Kayak Championships. He has spent decades on the water, racking up first-ever records that seemed impossible until he completed them.
First solo circumnavigation of South Africa’s entire coastline — 3,300 km in 70 days.
First SUP paddler to complete the Breede River solo — 330 km in 5 days.
Only person to kayak the Breede River source-to-sea non-stop — 310 km in 38 hours.
World first: solo unsupported kayak crossing of the Southern Atlantic Ocean — 6,403 km in 63 days.
The Defining Journey
OPERATION OCEAN X
Custom Vessel
A purpose-built kayak featuring an original keel design for open-ocean stability — engineered by Phil Southwell and hand-built by Dylan Soares De Melo at Further Composites after the original designer passed away during the build.
Unsupported & Solo
No escort vessel. No resupply at sea. Richard paddled every one of the 6,403 kilometres alone, navigating the Southern Atlantic — one of the world’s most remote and hostile stretches of ocean.
A Decade in the Making
The dream was born over 10 years before the paddle began. Planning took three years, was derailed by COVID-19 border closures and a pandemic, and yet Richard never abandoned the mission.
Navigation & Survival
Alone at sea for over two months, Richard managed weather windows, fatigue, nutrition, equipment maintenance, and the relentless psychological demands of radical isolation — all without outside support.
Paddling with Purpose
Every kilometre was paddled in support of Operation Smile South Africa — raising over R603,000 to fund cleft palate surgeries for children across the continent. Adventure as a force for good.
World First
On 19 February 2023, Richard arrived in Salvador, Brazil — completing the first-ever solo, unsupported kayak crossing of the Southern Atlantic Ocean. No human had ever done it before.
“We are in complete awe of what he has achieved… deeply grateful that he has used his epic adventure to transform the lives of dozens of children.”— Sarah Scarth, Executive Director, Operation Smile South Africa
Track Record
ALL EXPEDITIONS
First person to kayak the entire South African coastline solo — a continuous journey tracing the full perimeter of the country’s rugged Atlantic and Indian Ocean coasts.
First stand-up paddler to navigate the Breede River solo from source to sea — through farms, wetlands, and estuary in the Western Cape.
The only person to kayak the Breede River source-to-sea without stopping — a gruelling continuous paddle through the night with no rest periods.
The mission that defined a career and entered the history books. 63 days alone on the Southern Atlantic, paddling from Cape Town, South Africa to Salvador, Brazil. Solo. Unsupported. First in history.
Keynote Speaking
BOOK RICHARD
TO SPEAK
Richard brings the raw reality of 63 days alone on the ocean into your conference room — and the lessons he learned about resilience, focus, and the power of purpose translate directly into any team or business context.
How to keep moving when conditions are impossible and the goal seems unreachable.
Managing isolation, fear, and doubt across months of extreme challenge.
Identifying and committing to the goals that truly matter — and not stopping until you arrive.
How connecting effort to a greater cause multiplies performance and fulfilment.
“We are in complete awe of what he has achieved… delighted he has made his dream a reality… deeply grateful that he has used his epic adventure to transform the lives of dozens of children.”
What to expect
- → First-hand storytelling from the world’s most extreme kayak expedition
- → Stunning photography and video from the crossing
- → Practical frameworks for teams and individuals
- → Tailored to your industry and audience
- → Available for in-person or virtual events
Operation Smile
PADDLING WITH
PURPOSE
Richard didn’t paddle the Southern Atlantic just for the record. Every stroke was driven by a commitment to Operation Smile South Africa — an organisation that has spent 35 years giving children with cleft lip and palate conditions a new smile, and a new life.
At just R5,500 per surgery, the funds raised during the Ocean X expedition directly funded over 110 life-changing operations for children across Africa and beyond.
The campaign exceeded its original target of R500,000 — a testament to the generosity of the thousands who followed Richard’s journey and chose to be part of something bigger.
Learn About Operation SmileGet in Touch
LET’S
TALK
Speaking Enquiries,
Media & Partnerships
Whether you want Richard to speak at your next event, explore a partnership, discuss media opportunities, or simply reach out — use the form and he’ll get back to you.
Partners & Supporters
